Photographer's Note

With the jambiya worn as a status symbol, it shouldn't surprise that many men in Yemen are careful dressers. Even if it's as simple as a t-shirt, a wrap and a scarf, many obviously color-match the pieces. This man I met outside a roadside cafe between Sana'a and Marib struck me as particularly elegant with his long shirt, headscarf and even his t-shirt perfectly color-matched - I tried to communicate this to him but failed, knowing no more than a few words of Arabic, but he was willing enough to pose for a picture when I asked him ("mumkin sura?").

The bulge in his shirt is his portion of qat for the day.

The cars in the background are the ubiquitous Toyota pickup trucks in Yemen: all mechanical, no electronics, so if necessary they can be easily repaired even in the middle of the desert.

(Note: latitude/longitude estimated; I have no measurement for this location.)

Great photo. The sky is a little "blown" out but no big deal. The expression of the man is great and his posture is really good also. I especially like the hand on the jambiya, the detail in the belt, the prayer beads around the jambiya and his expression (of course). Great daily life photo.